Valero asks EPA to redefine RFS definition of obligated party

Valero Energy Corp. has filed with a petition for reconsideration with the U.S. EPA, asking it to revise its definition of “obligated party” under the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The company has also petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to review the agency’s recent RFS rulemaking to set renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2014, 2015 and 2016, along with the 2017 RVO for biomass-based diesel.

According to information filed with the court, the Valero is asking the EPA to reconsider defining obligated party as the entity that holds title to the gasoline or diesel fuel, immediately prior to transfer from the truck loading terminal or bulk terminal to a retail outlet, wholesale purchaser-consumer or ultimate consumer, as reflected in the records maintained for federal excise tax purposes. According to the company, making this change will address supply constraints on renewable fuel in the transportation fuel market that impede the market’s ability to respond to renewable fuel volume mandates.

In court filings, Valero notes that it supported EPA’s use of its waiver authority for 2014, 2015 and 2016, but is asking the EPA to take action through redefine obligated party to move the point of obligation so that supply constraints are lifted. The company has asked the EPA to take action on the matter before finalizing 2017 RVOs.

Regarding the petition for reconsideration, Valero joins a wide variety of biofuel and petroleum groups in challenging the RFS rulemaking.

“By focusing on fuel distribution capacity and demand rather than supply, and by failing to consider surplus [renewable identification numbers (RINs)] from prior years, the agency erroneously concluded that there was an inadequate supply of renewable fuel to justify a waiver of the levels established by Congress,” said the biofuel and ag groups in the statement, noting they also plan to point out other fundamental flaws and inconsistencies in the government’s rule.

On Feb. 11, the American Petroleum Institute joined the legal fight over the program, filing a challenge with the court. In its filing, the API called aspects of the recent RFS rule “arbitrary, capricious, and abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; are in jurisdiction, authority, or limitations; and were adopted without observance of procedure required by law.”

The National Farmers Union filed its challenge to the RFS rule on Feb. 12. On the same date, the National Biodiesel Board also petitioned the court to review the rule. The court has since consolidated eight of the lawsuits filed to date.